Help With Hepatitis C Test Interpretation?

[Srbnsoxley]

On or about October 5 I had a Hep C test completed as part of a 10 Panel STD check. The results at that time came back as < 0.1 which was negative. This test was done at about 4 weeks post potential exposure. Then, on October 26th, I had another 10 panel test and the value was indicated as 0.1, also negative.

My concern is that I have read that Hep C may not show up on a blood test until 8 - 9 weeks post exposure. I had the second test at the beginning of the 8th week.

Would the results suggest that I am actually positive due to the change in values from < 0.1 to 0.1?

[flyinlynn]

The small change in number is simply test variation. It has no significance.

It can take up to 12 weeks to develop enough hep C antibodies to develop to reach testable levels assuming you have a normal immune system. If you are immune compromised as in the presence of co-infection with HIV or anti rejection immune suppressing medicines it can take as long as 6 months for enough antibodies to rise to detectable levels.

So any testing prior to 12 weeks post a concerning exposure  is simply a waste of time.

Hep c is principally a blood borne infection and relatively difficult to transmit. Most often hep c is transmitted by sharing of IV drug equipment between drug users.

Did you experience a possible blood to blood contact with blood known to be infected with hep c?

[Srbnsoxley]

I am not entirely certain. I did have unprotected anal sex with pull out method.

[flyinlynn]

Did your partner have hepatitis C?

[Srbnsoxley]

Their status is unknown.

[flyinlynn]

Could you ask them?

Either that or test at the correct time 12 weeks post. If you should have a concerning exposure in the future only test at 12 weeks post exposure, tests prior to that are without diagnostic value and a waste of time.

[Srbnsoxley]

He related that in the past he had Hepatitis A. He is going for testing and hopefully that will put much of my concerns at rest... fingers crossed.

[flyinlynn]

Hepatitis A and hepatitis C are unrelated and caused in different manners by different viruses.

Hepatitis A is basically food borne oral fecal transmission. Hepatitis C is blood borne

[Srbnsoxley]

He tested negative for Hepatitis A, B & C.

[flyinlynn]

Congratulations you cannot contract an infection from a person who does not have an illness